What's Yours Is Theirs

A homeowner challenges Philadelphia's abusive civil forfeiture law.

Updated Sept. 4, 2014 11:27 a.m. ET

Cities have tried all sorts of measures to raise money to shore up their budgets: Chicago sold its parking meters, Detroit considered selling its art collection. In Philadelphia the government is confiscating the private property of its residents.

Under civil forfeiture laws, police can seize and sell private property whether or not the target is convicted of a crime. In the City of Brotherly Confiscation, police and prosecutors have...